Sediment echosounder data was recorded during R/V MARIA S. MERIAN cruise MSM20/4 (WACOM) between 14.3.2012 and 07.04.2012 in the West Atlantic (Florida Strait). Being a part of the international program TRACES (Trans-Atlantic Coral Ecosystem Studies) the main research goal of the cruise was the investigation of the occurrence and diversity of cold-water corals (CWC). Using sampling equipment (CTD, box and gravity corer) as well as the Remotely Operating Vehicle (ROV) CHEROKEE (MARUM) physical and biological factors, which control the occurrence of CWCs, were further examined. Hydroacoustic means such as the EM120, EM1002 and the ATLAS PARASOUND P70 were used to map the research areas and to plan the sampling stations (https://doi.org/10.2312/cr_msm20_4). During the RV MARIA S. MERIAN cruise MSM20/4, the hull-mounted parametric sub-bottom profiler ATLAS PARASOUND P70 was used to conduct information about the sediment sub-surface and water column. It is utilizing the parametric effect of the non-linear relation of pressure and density during sonar propaga-tion. Data acquisition was performed using measured real-time values f surface sound velocity and a static sound velocity profile of 1500 m/s. Using the software ATLAS PARASTORE, data was displayed and stored as raw .asd files (and its zipped versions .asd.acf with aux-file .asd.acf.idx) and can further be processed and converted into .ps3 / *.sgy file format.

Responsible person during this cruise / PI: D. Hebbeln, P. Wintersteller, G. Eberli